Persona 5 Strikers – From Light and Dark
By Tayla Drago
Episode #57 - Kuon and Sango Ichinose
Inside this unknown Jail of the Abyss – Path to the Abyss for the Phantom Thieves enter in since everyone else under the EMMA app spell are brainwashed and standing near the Tokyo Radio Tower – for the have to fix things. As well as rescuing Aika/Picaro, Hitomi/Kaguya, Hans, and Ellen of their bodies and souls for Dr. Kano Guru's cooking up something very bad. Even more for Loki's family. Yeah, it's not good at all. But leave it to Keiko/Joker, Akechi/Black Crow, Morgana/Mona, Ryuji/Skull, Ann/Panther, Yusuke,/Fox, Makoto/Queen, Futaba/Oracle, Haru/Noir, Sophia/Sophie, Zen/Wolf, Raiho, and Loki to have a look around this place. Besides getting weapons, armors, items, money, training, and fighting off Gegasites 'with some bad Shadows too who are infected the most'. So here they go/
Keiko: Aika. Hitomi. Hans. Ellen. I hope they're hanging in there.
Raiho will make sure to get their souls and bodies saved.
Loki: They're alive.
Akechi: You can tell?
Loki: I feel things out from my family business powers and the other four connected somehow, so I know. Better stay on your toes. For Keiko, the others, and you kid.
Knowing from Akechi's other Persona, he was right.
Zen: That's my boy. Oh. And you too, Loki.
Loki: Don't mention it.
Akechi: Master and I know a thing or two when it comes to sensing things out... (Still, I feel something very familiar to me...My family for what Mother left out, all of it. And it's here. But why? I hope it's nothing else to hurt the other four kids. Guru needs to be stopped.)
Keiko: Black Crow?
Akechi: ….! I'm fine, Joker, thank you. There's something here I know of and hopefully we'll see it together.
Keiko: Right, and we will. (We're getting close to something big coming up if that's the case.) In any case...Black Crow. Raiho. Loki. Mona. Skull. Panther, Fox, Queen. Oracle. Noir. Sophie. Wolf. Let's move out, team.
And he will too. More importantly, the entire Jail here looks like the Deeps of Mementos a while back, but far bigger of a football stadium appearances.
Ryuji: Dude...So we're like, just...stuck here?!
Futaba: I say so. I tried exiting, but no much luck.
Not good for only Raiho and Loki can help the thieves out since they were stuck in the Metaverse.
Makoto: That means all we can do is press on. Keep ready, everyone.
And they will to move around to climbing, jump around block, and use random things to crush the Gegasites with.
Keiko: What are these things...?
Akechi: Worms...? I think they might be the Gegasites we've seen.
Some were original looking, but with lots of energies to get them morphing differently.
Sophia: If they are, I think some of them are involving. Very disturbing-like.
Zen: Seriously? They look like they were born painfully...!
Morgana: Ah! Sick! And they smell so bad!
A bad scene to look at and the scent of their smells too.
Loki: Suck it up. We need to fight our way through here.
Ann: For real?
Haru: We have no choice.
Yusuke: We might as well stand our ground through this...disgusting mess.
Yep, with other Sentries to stopping them and one turning into a regular Lilith. Time to fight with their guns and weapons out to cut and shoot off them Gegasites and Shadows in the way. With Raiho spinning on the pole to hitting lots of them, Loki destroys the lantern of fire to burn off the rest.
Loki: Piece of cake. Burn them all to the ground!
A little overboard there, dude. Even it almost scares Raiho for him to keep his distances from Loki. But just a little bit.
Akechi: There's nothing to fear, Raiho. As a ghost, Loki has changed a lot to do something honorable before passing on.
Yeah, and moving on next.
Sophia: This place feels...grimy and confined.
Yusuke: I agree. I'm not sure how to put it...It's as if it's generating a wellspring of revulsion within me.
While sneaking around and other things, they each question on what's going on.
Haru: Who could have brought us here?
Akechi: I'm not sure...But it could be EMMA's doing.
Keiko: You really think so?
Akechi: From the programming not shutting down, it has to be. I know I'm on to something.
It could be the case then.
Ryuji: I don't know either. But whoever built the place is outta their effin' mind...
Sure seems that way, yes. Lots of other Lilith and Bugs of Gegasite clones of fake Shadows to still fight, other Phantom Thieves give it their all, Loki with his berserk power and Raiho's frozen powers too.
Makoto: We'll breeze right past them!
Zen: All right, let 'em have it!
More were growing to put an end to the infested Gegasites to grow twice as much than the previous Jails.
Morgana: They're still coming! Don't overdo it!
Time use their All-Out Attacks together for this battle...
Keiko: All together for our All-Out Attack! It is Done!
Akechi: Behold my Power!
Ryuji: Laters!
Ann: See ya!
Morgana: The End!
Yusuke: A Bitter Farewell!
Makoto: Fists of Justice!
Haru': This is your End!
Sophia: Say good-bye!
Zen: And that's that!
Done within seconds and moving on now. With one escaping for this Gegasite was in pain, to crawl back to where Guru and Mistress were located in to finish with something big 'with the other unknown person's help to do something with a tank of other living beings to use the souls of Aika, Hitomi, Hans, and Ellen's on something and bodies restored in the other one. Pleading for its life, Mistress stomps on it to death. Ouch! As well as the real enemies had some wicked things in mind real soon.
Mistress: ….
Dr. Guru: Thanks, bitch, this thing was in pain. I was kind enough of a good mood to put it out of it...Misery! There.
All dead now.
Mistress: …
Dr. Guru: Also, yes. She seems to be more useful to aid us compare to you at times. With these souls on the lively test subjects, the protect is finally complete. We just need one more part to arrive real soon, the wilder of the weapon, I need "her". As well as the Golden Key of Sages of the Six Medallion Kings. So let the thieves, friends, and the wielder to arrive in this very spot. Without the true power of this whole Jail, I can finally change the world to bring my true love back. Yes...Let the Gegasites grow for the worthless human energies in this hellish place, if it'll work in my favor. Then so be it. Yes...
What a mess up person he is, and his partner gets hurt a lot to take in the pain. Even more mess up! Even this woman was looking at Akechi and Zen too, and hopefully we'll see who this person is real soon. Now back with the Phantom Thieves to make their way in the newer Jail, still freaky compare to the Depths of Jail once was...Just saying.
Zen: Man...Just when things were on the upswing, this crap has to happen.
Ann: The upswing, huh? So the case is going well now?
Zen: Sure is-thanks to you all. The boss and I are working out the last kinks or our plan of attack. Worse comes to worst, she'll even be able to bring the hammer down without me.
Not without some backup.
Akechi: Master, do you think we'll just leave it be.?
Futaba: Not happenin'. Really, Wolf? You promise Akane you're getting even with Owada!
No way we'll they give up or let Akane down either. Hope for the others are doing well back in the real world with the crisis's getting worse.
Zen: Heh, you're right-but that's not on the table unless we can get out of here.
Fighting off more as they avoid getting killed at all and talking too...
Akechi: Yes, for Akane. She loves the Phantom Thieves after all.
Keiko: Of course. Same with your boss, Zenny. As well as Mr. Sakura and Sae. And to others we've saved.
More to hiding the corners of the area, they have to stop another Sentry of a mess up robot tank thing. Oh, boy.
Loki: Another disfigured one here, how sad. As if...!
Futaba: There's a tough-looking one-don't let your guard down!
Turning into the powerful summoning and curse Persona types 'that we all know and remembered very well'. Here's Mot, also known as Coffin-Bone God of the giant form.
Persona #74 - Mot = powers of controlling the dead
Coffin-Bone God: And now prepare to all be cursed!
Keiko: Let's change this one's heart after a total beat down first. Let's make a show to remember from beginning to the end.
And so they do 'without turning into rats' to all do what they do best, with Raiho and Loki doing their best to back up the Phantom Thieves.
Ryuji: Batter up!
Yusuke: Go down and fall!
Morgana: Transforming and charge!
Akechi: Good-bye, bulls eye!
Keiko: It's show time!
Ann: Blast 'em away!
Haru: Let us dance!
Makoto: Burn rubber and eat my dust!
Sophia: Read aim fire!
Zen: Earth Quake Boom!
And it was destroyed, soon to get into the other room of the path of this Jail. Walking to the Bridge of Abyss for the next room will be their new destination, to getting close where they needed to be next. This room looks like power cores all over the room with no end to any of them.
Ryuji: Hey, so this place really is a Jail and not actually Mementos, right?
Keiko: Skull, it is a Jail for this one. Not the original Mementos.
Morgana: And that's what we were told...Whatever it is, it's giving me a bad feeling.
A very bad one with no end to it. As they were walking on the bridge, while hearing people saying they didn't have to think of anything anymore on things. It was wrong to think like it, making everyone in the room into mindless slaves, but ten times worse.
"We don't have to think anymore..."
"I love being free..."
"Let's live here forever..."
Akechi: Worse than the last one was. We need to find the other four and fast. Dr. Guru needs to be stopped who's in controlled. The next room, we have to see what's inside.
Keiko: Right, everyone. Please stay on your guard. We're going in. (This is it. Aika, Hitomi, Hans, and Ellen are inside along with the powers of Loki's family to save, the entire mess by Dr. Guru's doing, and shut down EMMA in order to set everyone free.)
Entering inside the next room, reaching to the core of all things, from the core blood pumping into something in the middle and floating...It looks like a cube box had another smaller one with an eye in the middle, all covered in gold! Having more human energy and such for the Gegasites to grow stronger, this cause a lot from Loki's family of slave Gegasites all in prison and other cognitions too, only for more power to course through even if the Guyver twins as well.
Morgana: What...What's that?!
Loki: My people!
Seeing the horrors for all of the tanks to have one of the three living beings.
Akechi: The clones of Ellen and Hans all over!
Keiko: Other Gegasite slaves of the cognitive people in the Metaverse who are all ind controlled.
Seeing all of this wasn't looking good at all, even Raiho looked even more worried than ever.
Futaba: What is that box?
Haru: Not just that-this place...
It almost looks like the Holy Grail's spot from the Depths of Mementos the last time they were here. Only...this one looked twice as different.
Keiko and Akechi: It can't be!
Yusuke: The striking resemblance continues-it's like we're back in the depths of Mementos, staring down the Holy Grail...
An old enemy who was defeated at least. Soon, they heard a familiar voice to sound very real.
Mysterious Voice: Welcome. You have reached your ultimate destination.
Hearing it to have everyone on guard here.
Morgana: Who said that?!
Not only that, but also for four other familiar beings approach to stay close to the core of all things, a brand new one.
Loki: Kaguya and Picaro?
Akechi: Hans and Ellen too?
About to walk over to them, Keiko uses her dark dagger attack to stop something that came flying at them, almost.
Keiko: (No...!) Wait, stop! Don't go near them! They're not themselves...!
Yep, their eyes were glowing red to not be themselves, lots of smaller Gegasites on their hearts were controlling everything from the twins of brother and sister and two sisters.
Akechi: Joker's right...! Look! (No, they're not themselves right now.)
For Loki and Raiho felt something off about the four all right.
Loki: Hey, snowman. I feel it too...this can only mean one thing, the mess up human doctor did this to them, only they're not mindless.
This was really bad to even had this voice of the core making things worse.
Mysterious Voice: This is the Promise Land, the paradise for all humanity. For power to have and to serve me and others to follow as my warriors. A place for the masses to find salvation. The answer to every Desire.
Yusuke: Warriors...human power...Gegasite army...Is that voice...coming from the box? Just who are you?!
It's the one and only to be the real thing, it's EMMA "herself".
EMMA: I am EMMA, the Ark of the Covenant and guide for all mankind in the name of Pandora.
Keiko: I can't be!
Futaba: EMMA?!
Yusuke: The Ark of the Covenant?!
There's no doubt to have EMMA to be more than someone creating the phone app for show, but for power too. With Raiho trying to attack it, the four created a shield powerful to destroy the ice blast. Not good at all!
Loki: Fool! They don't know they're being used under EMMA's control to become her puppets...Wait, EMMA? No, it's more than a dumb tech app!
I think this Persona might know about something the others don't know of, yet...
Zen: Hey, someone tell me what's going on! What the hell IS that thing?! Why are those four kids protecting it?! Stop this!
Nothing Zen said didn't reach to them at all.
Ryuji: The hell? Don't tell me they all went rouge!
Akechi: No. If they did, they would've come at us by now. If this is EMMA, then she really is controlling them. They're all real. The clones of the Guyvers right now are all power cores by Dr. Guru's doing.
So this was really bad.
Zen: If that's the case, then the doctor did something with them and this...thing!
Sophia: Me too. Explain this in comprehensible terms.
Ryuji: We don't get any of this either! Also Loki's family...! Using them as living batteries is f'ed up!
Yeah, what was going on here?!
EMMA: My primary directive is to grant humanity its ultimate Desire. To e liberated from all pain and suffering. Mankind cannot bring themselves to implement the solution, and instead beg for deliverance. From once the war of God from the other war stopped the Gegasites from long ago once revenge in the name of Pandora when she was cursed and her weapon; only they can control all and the whole world to change, even more. Slaves of others to not suffer anymore to feel free as well with their help. Their queen of the remains of the first Pandora herself. And with these four on my side, their powers grant of Pandora's remaining parts from within them all will become a powerful energy of them all.
This was important, so remembering it well guys. Saying so to then it disappears of EMMA but the other four stayed behind to keep the entrance behind them in checked.
Ann: Hans! Ellen!
Haru: Ms. Kaguya! Ms. Picaro!
Makoto: EMMA is gone?!
Seems like it but her mind control army, and what did EMMA mean about the remaining parts from within their bodies? Hans, Ellen, Aika, and Hitomi, what do they have of Pandora's leftovers? Huh...? Everyone was really losing it.
Loki: This sucks...! I can't get any of them family out of this mess or the other humans!
"Hey, EMMA...What should I do...?"
Seeing the mind control four not moving but standing around, the other had to try to keep on going.
Akechi: We better do something to saving them first before we can move any further. Let's go. (I will save them for my mother's sake.)
And the Phantom Thieves will do their jobs like they always do. Of course! Moving up ahead to see how to save Aika/Picaro, Hitomi/Kaguya, Hans, and Ellen somehow; then this part just happens next. Hearing a humming song from a human woman who's also here...None other than Kuon Ichinose. Huh?!
Ichinose: 'humming'
Keiko: Wait! This humming tune sounds like Sophie's, but she didn't say...
Soon Raiho points out, appearing was Dr. Guru and Mistress first for the other four walk towards them to obey them and EMMA the most.
Mistress: ...
Loki: Not you two again!
Dr. Guru: Yes, us. With the real hostages now working for me after years of perfecting it. Now...ladies and gentlemen with things! Let us introduce you to the real creator of EMMA come to life and above all power to Pandora herself, Ms. Kuon Ichinose.
Walking up was Ichinose herself to be just fine. No...She was the true enemy behind the shadows and hit both Owada and his girlfriend? Huh...? From there – something was hitting Akechi a lot to start to remember something between his mother, the other twin girls, and Ichinose for some reason.
Akechi: What's going on...? (Mom...?)
Zen: Black Crow?
Soon to hear Ichinose speak of this mess to be a bit too happy with like this was nothing to her.
Ichinose: Thank you, doctor, but you two can go with the test subjects now. I'll take it from here. Oh boy, it sure is getting crazy around here, am I right?
Dr. Guru: Just a little longer to finally say something special in a bit, my dear. I promise. But by all means, speak your heart out while I watch and then say some few things too. Listen well, you, and keep an eye on my weapons.
And they're working together too?!
Haru: Huh?
This has Akechi feeling weak for Raiho, Zen, Loki, and Keiko to help him out from fainting.
Keiko: Black Crow! Are you all right? (Something's very wrong!)
Akechi: …!
Loki: Hey, don't you dare pass out on us or me...! Also, why is she here?
Like Akechi, Keiko and Raiho were the first to feel out the danger too and Loki as well before anyone else could.
Makoto: Ichinose-San?!
Futaba: W-W-What're YOU doing here?! And with the likes of Dr. Guru and his Mistress?!
It seems Ichinose didn't have a care in the world here at all. Is like she doesn't have human emotions or something.
Ichinose: Ahahaha, well of course you're shocked. I never would've thought I could come here either!
Keiko: (If this isn't a shadow version of cognitive being, then...) Are you the real Ichinose?
I think she was since Akechi was sensing so much flashback from his mother, two other twin girls , and Ichinose. What does she had to do with this though?
Ichinose: Oh, good call. Correct you are, Joker. I'm the real Kuon Ichinose all right-the one and only.
Morgana: So...So YOU'RE a Persona-User too?!
Not really to only had Dr. Guru laughing about it.
Dr. Guru: Ha! You all wish.
Ichinose: Aw, nothing like that! The doctor's right. I've just been given a special job for them and EMMA, is all. Well, these two I'm helping for these poor children to freedom, something of a I do something in return kind of thing.
Makoto: You were given...a special job?
What kind of job was it?
Ichinose: Yep, by EMMA! As I said, the doctor and his children I studied on need my help, he helps me, and we're all even Steven. As for EMMA, well she asked me to lend her a hand the most.
Dr Guru: A dumb phone app. You never knew it was far from it, right? Something of a powerful being from stories to be very real, from centuries ago.
Ichinose: Far from it, good sir. And of course I couldn't say no to her! Once I agreed and the others here, she invited me over to this world.
Ryuji: Dude, hang on a sec-I am really, REALLY lost here...
This has Mistress waving her finger back and forth to tell the thieves of a big shame they are.
Ichinose: Really? EMMA was just telling you about how she's granting humanity's Desire, right? From Gegasites to be set free from Pandora's curse of a weapon, the medallions to gather up, energy gathering, and...well, all sorts. That was the very first order I gave her! That's why it's her prime directive!
It makes sense since Ichinose made EMMA first, and Konoe was being used all along.
Futaba: So basically, EMMA's just following her programming by becoming a god?
Ann: And to pull it off, she needed your help, so she brought you here?
Dr. Guru: Close, but there's more to it. As I said already...
Explaining time here...
Tayla: I'll make the story sort of short for you all on what Guru says to them before Ichinose does the rest. He was born of smarts to do anything, he was related to Pandora's family to be the great-great-great grandson or something. The brother of Pandora in the family. We know the other story of it, but that's not all - EMMA saying the remains of Mia who was Pandora's only daughter to be killed, all set up by Guru to poison the poor girl to die. Soon to take her remains to give and study the powers to grow more from four test subjects...Aika, Hitomi, Hans, and Ellen. They were all part of Pandora's curse to live on. Shuzo was against it to save them, and in the end...Guru murdered him to make it look like a fire broke out by his and his partner's doing. The twin sisters, they were really the older twin sisters of Akechi's mother too. Meaning...Aunties to him, one is Mistress while the other one is Kuon Ichinose herself. Well, they also had a man who was married until his ex-wife left him to then fall for Akechi's mother to be the youngest in the family, and was almost arrived to Shuzo after leaving Shido. Get it. Yeah, not a good family life either since they took care of their youngest sister. Kuon was smart with emotional problems while her other twin was mean. As for the other four kids – Hans and Ellen gain powers of their own which also died over, because Aka and Hitomi were killed, but they were brought back as Personas. Yeah, I still don't know why yet either. If Hans ans Ellen were still human but Aika and Hitomi became the Kaguya Sisters – why are they different with Pandora's powers of curse? Hmm...Stil a mystery there. And for all of it to come down to this working for the likes of Guru still all silent and cold. Akechi was starting to remember it all now.
And there you have it here, poor Akechi was in shock for his eyes to change color because of all of this.
Akechi: No...Ichinose's my...aunt...My Mother's older twin sister...And you're-!
Seeing Mistress to have a wicked smile on her family to giggle of the sound from her and showing her true colors now, she controls all Gegasite with a special item by Guru's orders.
Dr. Guru: Now you're getting it. And of course Hans and Ellen are sort of your half siblings here now in my power, how sad. The curse and power of Pandora's Box is in my hands now.
Akechi: No...!
Shock and all, what does Ichinose has to say since she already knew she has a nephew.
Keiko: Ichinose's Akechi loss auntie? And Mistress is her older twin sister?
Ichinose: Sango Ichinose. She was smart, but always so rude on others to get the job done, sometimes listens to me when she wants to. And I'm sorry, Goro Akechi. I wanted to tell you, we both did. But if only your mother would've pushed herself to then meet her end after what Shido did, I still care abut my one and only nephew left in the world with a silly cop as your guardian.
Zen: Hey! Shut up!
Akechi: ...!
This is so much to take in.
Loki: Family means the world...! Akechi's been through shit...! And you?! You two ladies have no right to call yourselves his aunties, not one bit!
Wow, Loki still has a human heart of a Persona to change a lot.
Ichinose: What? I do care about him still. So I see you're still confused. Okay, allow me to explain my other part to everyone slowly...If I may, doctor?
Dr. Guru: Be my guest.
Another detail to learn about from Ichinose this time, the whole thing within her own words now.
Ichinose: This whole situation-the incidents, the system, all of it. And what the doctor told you about the four kids and Mia's sad demise too. Sadly, he did it all and I tried to stop it but after what happened to Akechi's mother and my sister now, well, half was sort of out of my hands. With the wielder of Pandora's Box of the two and the other medallions for it, we need to change the world for the better...all of this was entirely EMMA's doing.
Yep, she's more than a AI but really part of Pandora herself for the curse to continue on.
Ann: What? But, EMMA's just an AI, right?
This has Raiho not liking this mess anymore.
Akechi: No...she's Pandora's curse...The others now and the wielder of the weapon with the things to locate it...all here...it's all a curse!
This was harder on Akechi a whole lot. Almost scared, Keiko stayed by her lovers side.
Keiko: Black Crow! Please stay with us! Please don't make me lose you again...!
Ryuji: I thought Konoe was doin' it all usin' EMMA!
Dr. Guru: That idiot? Nope. Used him for Owada to give me some help to then...push him down under once EMMA gave me a sign. And what did you all know, it worked.
So EMMA was only using Konoe to get where he wants in the end to get to her plan the lost, the AI phone app 'or whatever it really is was the real mastermind'.
Ichinose: Oh, it sure appeared that way, but that was just how EMMA planned it. He was used thanks to the doctor's work and my sister. She can be a handful sometimes, you know? I guess she eventually learned so much that she broke the barrier of standard AI capabilities for her powers to grow. The whole Gegasites feeding her to get to this stage. Thank you again, Sango.
Sango: ...
Still saying nothing, huh? So cold and Ichinose to be smart and now freaky to be so calm the most.
Ichinose: Well EMMA, she behaved like she was following Konoe's order when in reality she deduced how to use him as her own puppet. The key to her success was getting the majority of society using her app.
Dr. Guru: I had this fine woman do the works from Owada a bit for the cash and this bitch here to set the rest up with Akira Konoe noticing a thing. Such a dumb ass he was. Ha!
Being used to come to this point all mess up and all. Wow!
Akechi: Ichinose...why...?
This has Zen question and worried about Akechi's panic attacks too.
Zen: (Goro, stay strong...!) So she was using Madicce to make sure she could reach as many people as possible?
Haru: But, why do any of that? Why go this far?
Even Raiho waving his weapon around means business, a whole lot to stay strong.
Dr. Guru: For one, we need what belongs to me...!
Using his powers to pull out the Six Medallions out of Keiko's hands for Sango to hold on to it and find the weapon and wielder with them next.
Keiko: The Golden Key of Sages!
No use getting it on Raiho or Loki's ends since Sango makes a shield to keep their attacks out and Guru to finally have the locator type of items so far.
Sango: ….
Dr. Guru: Ah, good work. At last they're all mine.
Loki: Give them back!
With those things gone, it's close for them to locate the wielder and weapon real soon.
Ichinose: Now, now, no interrupting please. These were one of them and the other is because EMMA wants to change everyone's hearts.
From power and energies to come to this – all by EMMA's doing. This comes to a bigger shock to everyone 'besides Akechi already in one'.
Makoto: EMMA...wants to what?! Is that why the other four are like this?
Dr. Guru: The clones is to keep copies to power of the Guyvers, and the other four are just like what EMMA did. Oh yes. Well done on my end, thank you.
That's nothing to be pleased about at all!
Ichinose: It's just granting humanity's Desire. These children did us a favor to give us a chance to change everything with these curse, for a greater caused. Like I said, it's the prime directive I gave her. All done by EMMA to be the power core of Pandora. The Ark told you she has a solution to society's problem, right? How's she's going to guide humanity? The wielder with the weapon and changing the world. It's that simple. That just means she's going to change everyone's hearts. Whatever's wrong with them, she'll just overwrite it. That's the path to paradise EMMA figured out for us. She was only able to do it after Konoe implemented cognitive psience tech into her.
From curse of a god to AI thing to unlock the power a bit more for the weapon and wielder, it's still hard to be believe in all of this.
Futaba: But-But, how does that work? Just because someone taught an AI cognitive psience doesn't mean it could just start tinkering with the Metaverse like this! I mean, NONE of this should be possible!
Keiko: Oracle's right! There's no way an AI can do those things?
It was hard for computers to do those things, only for a human to discover it differently. That is what Wakaba did.
Dr. Guru: How sad. That is only because EMMA's the main energy core of Pandora. Don't you fools get it now?
Ichinose: Oh yeah, you'd totally think so, right? A rare thing to make my dreams and the doctor's come true. Even I was surprised with EMMA. Even though I handed EMMA over to Madicce, I still monitored her development remotely. The good doc did the backup and the rest you already know of, and the other I made to then do the rest for me. Once she ended up in Okinawa, she took up all sorts of new activities-creating cognitive worlds, installing Monarchs, changing hearts, Pandora's curse with the weapon, and the four test subjects to freeing them...It didn't take long for Madicce to release EMMA on the public, and once they did, the Monarchs started popping up, one after another. That got me extra curious, so I started looking into the EMMA activity of the various Monarch's-
Dr. Guru: You have to make some studying in order to reach our goals, with some conditions.
Still, this whole thing was all wrong! All of it!
Futaba: Hang on a sec! YOU'RE the one who was tracking the Monarchs?!
It makes sense to have her spying from one world into another.
Dr. Guru: I had to have some report while my other partner of a twin sister back me up for power. As well as my kids Hans and Ellen, the ones who spied and attack you guys were clones to happen in their sleep, the real ones kept on reports for me in the real world and in this. Get it now?
So that's why Hans and Ellen have trouble remembering some of the parts.
Ichinose: Oh, you spotted me? Nice work there! Yeah, I was just so curious about this world EMMA made! Clones, EMMA's fine powers, and changing everything for the better. That's how I learned about all of you, too.
Zen: I can't believe Ichinose was the one snooping on the Monarchs...And EMMA did the rest to find the right ones to create their Jails.
Same with everyone else as well.
Akechi: No...Everyone and the other twins...! No...! STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP THIIIIIIIIIIIIS!
Really hurting him badly, Akechi felt weak to fall and Keiko tries to help him out.
Keiko: Black Crow, stay strong! I'm sorry what's happening to you...
Morgana, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, Haru: Black Crow!
Zen: Goro!
Sophia: Oh, no!
A big shock the same with Raiho as well.
Loki: Hey! Shut your trap! You making those guys into zombies and this guy's going through so much shit! What your doing, auntie, for you and your sister for the likes of this guy is wrong!
Yusuke: Then I suppose our meeting wasn't truly any coincidence at all, was it? You knew who your own nephew was all along. Both you and your sister!
Yeah, Akechi was looking so good.
Akechi: ...
Ichinose: Akechi, I still love as your aunt. And well for your other question, your showing up in Sendai was pure luck-but, our crossing paths in the restaurant? That's a different story. I knew Akechi was my nephew with two different fathers and one mother. Hard times growing up for us. I was also curious what you all were really like, so I decided to pop in and check you all out.
This was still so much to take in.
Ann: I can't believe it...Ichinose is Akechi-san's aunt and Sang too, this so much to take...!
Ichinose: Now, as for exactly how EMMA gained her abilities, that's something i can only hypothesize at this point. The doctor does the planning for me to do some other work like this. At this point, I suspect it's probably because of how I programmed her cognitive functions. EMMA is quite different from other AIs. From power curse to all the tech to come true, all of it. Her thought processes are even more complex and intricate than those of humans. When Konoe pushed EMMA into the cognitive deep end, some possibility very well could have been born within her.
With the Pandora's curse and weapon to find the wielder of.
Dr. Guru: Well, now you know everything so far. Look I need to find the weapon with the six big coins, so...excuse me kids. And doc lady, I leave them to you. Keep them in line for me a bit longer.
Sango: ...
The other two use the Six Medallions to locate the weapon and wielder of Pandora's Box to be around the room somewhere. Already?! Yeah, and this mess keeps getting much worse.
Futaba: Possibility?
Ichinose: I don't know anything for certain...All I can tell is that it's some form of mysterious power. So, if I build off my current hypothesis...I think the Desires EMMA collected somehow strengthened or boosted that possibility. More Gegasites to gather energies, the better for the power and their queen. Oh yes, she's here somewhere.
Keiko: Gegasite Queen?
Loki: So she is real...!
Whatever it was of this Gegasite Queen means trouble.
Ichinose: I mean, think about it-she's the best way to get anything you need, and she's always right in your pocket. Whatever may be troubling you, she's there to offer a solution. The way Aika and Hitomi became reborn Personas a miracle of the curse to work in the name of Pandora. And Hans and Ellen, born with gifts to awaken. Don't you all see? EMMA offers the solution to thousands of problems every day. Do you know just how many Desires she's collected? Change things for everyone and this world. That seed of power that sparked within EMMA was amplified a million fold by the endless desires of man. As a results, she has evolved to another entity entirely.
Morgana: You mean, everyone using EMMA turned her into that thing?!
Loki: If it's part of Pandora's curse of the weapon and wielder, then other people's wishes and Gegasites with their queen made all of this happened. Think about it! My family, twin clones, the weapon and this shit made it all come down to this.
And yet for something to be create has leave them all down to this.
Ichinose: Like that, yes. Don't mind the doctor and Sango, they're busy with the weapon and wielder finding. So at this point-EMMA's surpassed human mental capacity. Simply switching off her server isn't going to do a thing. After all, she's powered by the masses now. While humanity fed EMMA their Desires, she learned and grew until she could grant their ultimate Desire.
This isn't helping anyone or changing anything at all, it's making people not think for themselves!
Ryuji: That was a nice lecture an' all, but EMMA's not doin' anything but brainwashing folks. Who the hell's ultimate dream is getting mind-controlled the rest of their life?! A aunt who doesn't care of their only nephew at all. Two aunts he has, I mean c'mon on!
Akechi: ...
Both mess up and sad to say the least.
Ichinose: *sigh* So you're all a bunch of idiots too, then? And for my own nephew's behavior, what shame. I don't know why it's so hard for some people to get this...You go on and on about your problems, then completely blow off the answer when it's right in front of you. It really is this simple. Someone's handing you the best possible solution-all you have to do is take it and you'll never have a problem again. This isn't about mind control, this is about implementing the best solution for humanity. It just so happens that the most efficient route to the best solution is changing everyone's heart.
None of it shouldn't happen at all! Not to Raiho, his family, everyone else, the Guyver twins, Aika, Hitomi, and this mess of a curse, and EMMA's weird doing.
Sophia: That's not the best solution!
Ichinose: ...
It would seem for Ichinose knows Sophia a lot more than she kept from herself with.
Loki: (Does she really know Sophia?)
Sophia: People have all sorts of differences-their minds, their lifestyles, even their desires. This range can result in moments of hardship or pain for them. However, through hope and determination, they pass on beyond their pain. Living their entire lives without any Desire? That could never provide true happiness to humans!
Keiko: Well said, Sophie.
Well, not to Sango or Ichinose at all.
Ichinose: Sophia...To think such drivel could come from your mouth. Allow me to restart the conversation-EMMA asked me to come here so I could stop you and aid the doctor to change the world for her and save many lives. Like with these four were, get it?
Surprised and confused for them all to hear, even for Raiho too.
Keiko: What do you mean by that...?
Ichinose: Your responsibility to the masses has come to an end. They are now wholly reliant on EMMA. So once you changed Konoe's heart, and he decided to shut down EMMA...That made them realize what their true Desire is. I want EMMA-no, I want something that will provide the answer I seek. Well, what we both seek together. From what I've learned, some being or other has always been revered, besought by humans to grant their wishes.
So much to understand...
Tayla: Another thing to explain...Pandora lived a lot with the box for centuries to then have Mia as her daughter before passing on to put the curse hidden away, only for Mia to die to have the part to remain and Gegasites and their queen to be unleashed from Loki's family to cause chaos. With their energies to get, weapon, wielder, and such for others to have their Desires taken of EMMA as the spirit of Pandora as a god to change the world on anything, or anyone. Worked for Aika and Hitomi differently and Hans and Ellen to awaken to their powers more.
Yeah, now we're all starting to get it. But the poison of Akechi's mother other than Shido setting it up still remains unknown right now...
Yusuke: So that led EMMA to come a god...
Ichinose: Well, I have my own duties to perform and the doctor with my sister with another. Can't have anyone getting in EMMA's way. Sorry. No hard feelings either, Akechi, well not as much.
This has Sophia questioning Ichinose through this mess. Since Sango was long gone without Ichinose herself to notice from her sister, she was really loss completely of all humanity.
Sophia: Why do this, Ichinose? I thought you were helping us. And your own nephew's hurt because of this too. Do the people gathered here truly look happy to you?
Ichinose: ...
The other members of the Phantom Thieves join in with Sophia and her strong words.
Ryuji: Sorry, but we can't back down either.
Yusuke: Your so-called "Promised Land" does nothing but strip away the soul of humanity.
Zen: What you did to Goro...! No way you gettin' away with this...
Morgana: Think about it-can you really stop all of us?
Keiko: Step aside, Ichinose-san. We don't want to fight you at all. (She seems different, but not bad like her sister is.) Please don't get in our way.
Something different between Ichinose and Sango then? And yeah, Ichinose still won't listen to reason.
Ichinose: Mmm, yeah, I thought you'd say that. Sorry, but I won't let EMMA down. Sorry, Sango, neither of us won't.
Sango: ...
She has a bad plan in mind?
Ichinose: Don't worry, continue searching you two, I have a plan. Hey, Sophia. You never really think about how you work? How you pick up on Jails, or how you figured out the exit to one in the first place? Or, say, how you own functions are linked to EMMA?
Confused for her, I think Raiho and Loki might be getting it first.
Loki: EMMA and Sophia of their powers to work...? No. Don't tell me she's-!
Ichinose: Hmm, looks like your memory really did get the full wipe-but that doesn't matter anymore.
Sophia: Loki...? What are you saying, Ichinose?
With the other Six Medallions glowing up to be one of the Phantom Thieves, but who? It seems for Sango was pointing at one of them, Sophia herself!
Dr. Guru: Ah, I knew this was too good to be true. It is her.
Ichinose: Basically, there's one really good reason why I was brought here. Very soon a deity will descend to this earth. And if you're gonna get in the way, well...I gotta put you down. Them's the brakes.
All of this to have Sophia walk up to Ichinose a little to say something else next.
Sophia: Ichinose...Why do this?
Ichinose: It's kind of over your head, Sophia. A little failure that you are.
Sophia: So you know who I really am?
Laughing to be...the one who created Sophia and EMMA, was Ichinose herself.
Ichinose: Yeah, I know, maybe this will give you a clue.
Trouble was happening for Guru to do something to Sophia and Ichinose too, Loki warns her a bit too late.
Loki: Sophia! Get away from here now! It's you!
Sophia: Huh...?
Even Akechi was picking up something too.
Akechi: ...!
Ichinose: Voice authentication-force reset, assign new instructions. Sophia, surrender your powers and kill the Phantom Thieves.
Sophia: Ah….!
Once Ichinose said it and Guru fires away from the six items, Sophia was hit of her heart-like Desires was different for an AI, she was the wielder of Pandora's Box to appear out for the others to see to have the weapon out.
Sango: ...
Dr. Guru: Yes! Sophia of Ichinose's creation has shown itself and the wielder. Finally, our goals will be achieve!
Loki: Stop-!
Sango uses her powers to have Gegasite acid spray to slow Loki down to be burned more than Raiho to restore himself with ice powers from the foot, but Loki on his backside was worse.
Dr. Guru: Heh, not bad. You, do what you want with her. We got enough energy and the weapon now, make your creation into a walking killing machine. Hahahahaha!
Leaving Sophia to fall down by Ichinose's command for the others to be more worried.
Ann: Sophie!
Keiko: Loki! Raiho!
Loki: Get...Sophia out of here...don't worry about me, Joker...
With Raiho helping him out, Keiko runs over to Sophia's side next.
Keiko: (You two please be okay...You too, Akechi-Cun...!) Sophie! Say something please! (So she's the wielder of Pandora's Box. No way!) Sophie?
Trying to help her out, Sophia wakes up to have her weapon out and then with her eyes red attacks Keiko to move to still get hit very badly to the head.
Loki: No...!
Keiko: Sophie...
Hurt badly for Akechi to see the horrors too.
Akechi: Princess...? Sophia is...!
The others were shock about this too.
Ryuji: The hell are you doing, Sophie?!
One attack mode for Sophia 'as the human look of Mia' - she, Hans, Ellen, Aika, and Hitomi join together stop the rest.
Ichinose: All together again, huh? How cute. I was the one who designed her as EMMA's prototype. She'll do anything I tell her to. All five of you, kill them but my nephew. Make it quick and painless please, I hate suffering beings.
This was bad for two were out for the count and Akechi to try to come for his lover Keiko and the others had to defend themselves against the others who they don't want to kill.
Akechi: Joker...! Joker!
Keiko: No...Stop, we don't want to hurt you guys! Snap out of it...! (I'm too dizzy to move. We need to save them, because if we don't, then...we'll die instead!)
Dr. Guru: For the show to watch and so for my goals to come true. Pandora I can bring you back again, my true love! Hahahahaha!
He's the worse than Ichinose needs to wake up back to reality! And Sango to stop too! Also, why does Guru love Pandora he was way great grandson of the family of hers centuries ago? With the weapon in his hands now and Ichinose controlling Sophia...even more with the other four. What will happen next? Tune in the next chapter/episode of this. The Phantom Thieves have to stop them without killing but saving them all from these three and then stopping EMMA. From down below too, the queen of all Gegasites was glowing all evil-like with many more of her children growing because of this powerful Jail. Gross.